Endoscope with irrigation means

ABSTRACT

An endoscope comprising a shaft having a head in which is mounted an eye-piece for direct viewing. Inlet and outlet means for passing a fluid irrigation media through the shaft is provided beneath the head. A transparent body extends from the eye-piece to the inlet-outlet means and serves to prevent formation of air bubbles or the entrapment of particles in the head.

O Muted Mates Patent [1 1 {111 3,782,369

Storz Jan. 1, 1974 [54] ENDOSCOPE WITH IRRIGATION MEANS 2,699,770 1/1955 Fourestier et al 128/6 2,708,437 5/1955 Hutchins [76] Inventor'- fi f germannstrasse 3,132,646 5/1964 Hett 128/6 u mgen, ermany Filed: p 2, 1971 Primary Examiner-Channing L. Pace [2i] Appl. No: 177,349 Att0rneyRichard Low et al.

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data [57] ABSTRACT Apr. 3, 1971 Germany 71 l2995 n endoscope co pris ng a shaft having a head in [52] U S Cl 128/7 which is mounted an eye-piece for direct viewing. [51] 1/30 Inlet and outlet means for passing a fluid irrigation [58] Field of Search 128/4 5 6 7 8 media through the shaft is provided beneath the head. A transparent body extends from the e e-piece to the Y I 56] References Cited inlet-outlet means and serves to prevent formation of UNITED ST TES PATENTS air bubbles or the entrapment of particles in the head.

2,469,906 5/1949 Wallace l28/7 3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures IrTII I PATENTED 11974 3.782369 sum 1 0r 2 ENDOSCOPE WITH IRRIGATION MEANS BACKGROUND OF INVENTION The present invention relates to the construction of an endoscope, particularly having means for providing for the irrigation of the body part and for simultaneous direct viewing of the body part.

As a result of operative procedures for the removal of tumors or the crushing of bladder stones, tissue or stone fragments often remain behind and must be drawn out by means of irrigation devices fitted to the endoscope shaft. Often suction must be applied to remove the fragment via a pump or via a manually operable suction balloon. These'procedures are rather dangerous and require great care and attention so that the bladder wall and other tissues of the body are not themselves damaged, perforated, or partially sucked away.

In the past these procedures had to be undertaken blind and the vacuum process repeatedly interrupted for insertion of a separate optical viewing device to see what has been done. This procedure was improved by the construction of a direct viewing irrigation endoscope provided with a head in which an optical system was arranged, having a shutter window closeable to permit the supply and removal of the irrigating fluid. Illumination of the interior of the body, as for example the bladder, was accomplished through a light conducting rod or through a distally located bulb. A disadvantage of this device arose from the necessity of spacing the outlet and inlet openings from the window. Air bubbles and sometimes particles would appear in this space, imparing or even blocking the view through the window. Because the highest point of the space is near the window these created a particularly annoying problem. In order to remove the air bubble a ventilating valve was provided adjacent the window which could be opened in case a bubble appeared. The opening of this ventilating valve required the interruption of irrigation and often a great deal of valuable time was lost. Also, the ventilation of the air bubble could not avoid the simultaneous drainage of a portion of the irrigation fluid.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an endoscope for simultaneous direct viewing and irrigation which overcomes the problems and disadvantages of the prior devices.

It is another object to provide an endoscope which automatically eliminates the formation of air bubbles interfering with the view through the shaft.

It is another object of this invention to provide an endoscope which is simple in construction and which permits continual irrigation without the need for interruption.

These objects, other and numerous advantages will be apparent from the following disclosure.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION According to the present invention, an endoscope or the like is provided comprising a shaft, having a hollow head located at its proximal end and radially directed inlet and outlet openings for passing an irrigating fluid.

The head is provided with an eye-piece located along the axis of the shaft at the proximal end. A transparent body is arranged between the eyepiece and the openings substantially filling the space between the openings. The provision of the transparent body acts to prevent formation of air bubbles in the head while permitting direct viewing through the eyepiece.

Preferably, the transparent body is made of rectangular cross sections. The transparent body replaces and makes it unnecessary to use a shutter or closeable window.

Full details of the present invention are set forth in the following description and are shown in the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING In the drawings FIG. I is a side elevational view of an endoscope; embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view partially sectioned of the endoscope of FIG. 1 turned about its axis.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION Only so much of an endoscope is shown and described herein as is necessary to understand the present invention. Reference may be made to the copending applications, Ser. No. 177,353 and Ser. No. 177,350 of the inventor filed on even data herewith based on German applications, namely, Ser. No. G 71 18 059.1

dated May 8, 1971 and Ser. No. 7 107 645 dated Mar.

2, 1971, for additional details. Such details are incorpo rated herein by such reference. Additional information and details of conventional constructions, function, and uses of endoscopes may be found in the available literature.

In the attached drawing an endoscope insert adapted to be inserted in the patients body via a sheath or other tubular inserting device is shown. The insert comprises tubular hollow shaft 1 having an outlet opening 2 for discharging irrigation fluid and an inlet opening 3 for supplying liquid thereto. The inlet and outlet openings are located at the same level along the shaft 1. Mounted on the proximal end of the shaft is a hollow head 4 on which is located an eyepiece 5 closing the proximal end of the head 4. Extending within the head 4 and downwardly through the shaft 1 is a lightconductor 6 such as a glass, Lucite or similar rod. The light conductor 6 is connected to a neon lamp or other cool light source 7 powered in the conventional manner.

The eyepiece 5 is provided with an elongated depending transparent body 8 extending downwardly to the level of the outlet and inlet openings 2 and 3. The transparent body extends in the hollow interior between the eye-piece 5 and the outlet-inlet openings 2 and 3, replacing the previously known shutter lens or window. The distal end of the transparent body 8 fills the cross section of the upper end of the shaft 1 so that no air bubble can settle and disturb the view through the eye-piece 5. Furthermore, the distal end of the body 8 is continuously rinsed by the incoming irrigation fluid as well as the outgoing fluid by operation of valves 9 and 10 so that particles, air bubbles and other impurities are always removed.

The transparent body is preferably made of glass and is bar-like being rectangular or square in cross section. While glass is preferred, it may be replaced by suitable plastics such as Lucite or other optically suitable materials. The transparent body and the optical eye-piece can be made unitarily, integral or even separately of parts which may or may not be joined. The best optical results should obtain for the type of construction actu ally used.

It will be observed that the present device eliminates the shutter window and allows direct viewing when irrigation is being carried out. Furthermore, the present invention can be applied without otherwise changing the cystoscope and without the need for rearrangement of any of its other parts.

Various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention, the present disclosure is intended as illustrative only and should not be taken as limiting the scope.

What is claimed:

1. An endoscope or the like comprising a hollow shaft having a hollow head located at its proximal end and radially directed inlet and outlet openings located at a common level distally of said hollow head for the supply and removal of fluid to said shaft, an eyepiece body is rectangular in cross section. 

1. An endoscope or the like comprising a hollow shaft having a hollow head located at its proximal end and radially dirEcted inlet and outlet openings located at a common level distally of said hollow head for the supply and removal of fluid to said shaft, an eyepiece located at the proximal end of said head and axially aligned with said shaft, a transparent body extending axially between said eye-piece and said inlet and outlet openings axially aligned with said shaft and substantially filling the interior of said hollow shaft, the distal end of said transparent body being arranged at the level of said inlet and outlet openings so as to be rinsed by the fluid passing through said endoscope.
 2. The endoscope according to claim 1 wherein the said transparent body is glass.
 3. The endoscope according to claim 1 wherein said body is rectangular in cross section. 